Pajama Run a dream

Alicia Pugh and nearly a dozen friends donned shirts with the Atlanta Braves logo -- minus the "s" -- on them for the third annual Knology Pajama Run on Saturday.

The group was walking to raise money for MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center. But it was named "Brave for Dave," to honor Pugh's husband's year-to-the-date battle with a rare cancer, thymic carcinoma, that involved removing most of his right lung and a section of his heart and six rounds of chemotherapy. The Pajama Run earmarks funds for "below the waist" cancer research at Hollings.

"I love Hollings and the doctors there have been awesome," said Pugh. "I hope to give back for everything we've been given at Hollings and to help other families who need help."

The Pajama Run seems to have hit its stride this year, doubling its registration numbers, and luring a wide array of interesting bedtime-themed costumes, from a group with costumes from bed-time stories to two "crazy cat ladies" in curlers.

In fact, some costumes seemed not to fit the theme of the run at all, unless they were thinking of bizarre dreams. One woman ran with her parrot and macaw, and a couple of Citadel alums ran as a gorilla and a banana.

Race Director Kayla Droney, who works for Knology, expected registration for this year's event to hit around 450, partly because of the race's growing reputation as a fun event for a good cause and better marketing.